Quote:KLM orders Next Generation Boeing 737-700 aircraft
LE BOURGET, France, June 20, 2007 – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today announced an order for seven Next Generation Boeing 737-700s. At an estimated value of $413 million at list prices, the order for the Boeing 737-700 will bring a new model type to KLM’s fleet. KLM holds options for another seven Boeing 737-700s. KLM is also converting three existing Boeing 737-800 orders to Boeing 737-700s, to be delivered summer 2008, bringing KLM’s total unfilled orders for the Boeing 737-700 to ten, and six unfilled orders for the Boeing 737-800. KLM is acquiring more Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft to replace its Boeing 737 Present Generation and to expand its European short-haul operations. KLM will align the specification and operation of the Boeing 737-700 closely with its affiliate airline transavia.com.

Quoting KL808 (Reply 1):Im a bit surprised they went with the 700's even though they do have the older 300's.

That's exactly why they were ordered, to replace the -300's. KL has already started retiring the -300's from their fleet, they were some of the oldest aircraft in the KL fleet (the early builds anyway).

Quoting DALCE (Reply 12):AFAIK it will just be deployed in the fleet and routed to all 737 destination in the network.
I fear for you that FRA will not be amongst them, as KL mostly operates the Fokker 70 / 100 into FRA.

no worries, there is also IST amongst my frequent destinations which is also a 737 route
sure enough a beautiful bird to catch my 1st 737-700

Quoting Raggi (Reply 16):Yes, puzzling why they are all "K2"s, even the -900s.

It's because KLM has agreements with Transavia. When KLM orders an NG737 from Boeing, it's a transaction done through Transavia. The airplane is painted right away in KLM livery but on paper it is like if Transavia bought it. Why only the NG737' at KLM have this customer code? Because the NG737 is the only aircraft Transavia flies, I believe they have 700's and 800's.

KLM and Transavia probably agreed with each other about that, to get good deals from Boeing.